Automatic train-pipe coupling



J. B. GENIN.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE comma.

APPLICATION FILED MAY), 1920- I L mfifi Patented Dec. 5, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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APPLICATION FILED MAYI9 1920 Patented Dec. 5, 1922 4 SHEETSSHEET 2 W u 2% IWW l1. J m f w k wi. 6 6, E PM 1 5 W r J. B. GENIN.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI9,1920.

1,437,645. Patented Dec. 5, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- fffarizgy 1. B. GENIN. v AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1920- 1,487,645; Patented Dec. 5,1922.

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Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

PATENT JOHN B. GENIN, OF ST. ALBANS, VERMONT.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Application filed May 19, 1920. Serial No. 382,507.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that 1, JOHN B. GENIN, a citizen of the United States oi America, re siding at St. Albans, in the State of Vermont, United States of America. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to automatic train pipe-couplers for connecting adjacent ends of the pipe lines for air and steam on railway ears, and, is an improvement'over my previous Patent No. 1,327,031, dated JanuaryGth, 1920.

An object of this improved form of auto= matic train pipe-coupler is to provide means for effecting the connection ofsuch couplers either on curved or straight railway beds, and. for maintaining thereafter an absolutely tight joint whether cars pass around curves or not, or, whether the coupling members should be, for anyv reason, slightly placed with reference to each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic train pipe-coupling device that will effectively yield to shocks, vibrations or any other irregularity that may arise from the motion, of whatever na' ture it may be, of a train, and, which is simple in construction, easy and cheap to manufacture, and, as practical and effective in application as is consistent with the requirements of modern transportation.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a device for effecting the connection of the adjacent ends of the air and steam hose on railway, cars when two of said cars, to be c0upled,are not both provided with the usualcoupling. device, and, the adapter hereinafter disclosed, as embodying the means for effecting such connections, forms an integral part of the pre ent. application.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear as the description continues, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described. I

For a i'ull understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and also to acquire a knowl dge of the d tail o een r ien and the means for effecting the result, ref erence is now had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the coupling device as applied;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the couplers;

Figure 3 is a front elevation oi one of the coupling members;

Figure l is a vertical section through one of said couplers;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the adapter used as an interchangeable coupler-head; and,

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing the adapter coupled with a stationary couplerhead.

Referring to the above drawings, where like parts therein and throughout the corresponding description are referred to and indicated by the same reference characters,

A main bracket 1 of spring steel is adapted to the drawbar or shank of the automatic car couplers by means or set screws, bolts and nuts. or U-bolts, clamping plates and nuts.

, To the lower extremity of the main bracket 1 is rigidly attached aguide block 2 having a rectangular slot therein registering with a similar slot cut through the lo wer end of said main bracket.

Attached to the, lower end of the upper portion or said'main bracket is a threaded flanged stud or boss 3 on which is mounted a spring seat l andlocking nut 5.

Mounted on the lower end of the main bracket and passing through the same and through the above mentioned attached guide block is a pipe-coupler shank 6 having at one end a rectangular section (A) to loosely t said slot in said guide block and main bracket and to slide longitudinally therein, and, having at the opposite end a circular section (B) reduced in diameter for a portion of its length and terminating in a shoulder to support or act as a stop for a spring seat or follower block 7, and, having I at its upper end against the above described adjustable spring seat 4: mounted on the flanged stud or boss 3 at the upper rear end of the main bracket 1.

Mounted upon and encircling the forward or cylindrical portion of the pipe-coupler shank 6 is a shock absorbing helical spring 12 taking bearing at its foremost end against the follower block or spring seat 7 above referred to as being attached to the coupler shank and at its rear end against the guide block 2 through the medium of a spring fob lower block 2 having a convex face bearing against said guide block 2.

To maintain the required degree of co1npression .on the sho k absorbing spring 12, and to retain coupler shank and head in their normal position, a combined stop block and shank aligning bracket 13 is fitted to the rear end of coupler shank 6, and, is connected thereto by a headed pin 1 1 and split cotter.

Attached to coupler shank 6 by means of a ball connection 15 fitting into socket 3, is the coupler head 16.

Coupler head 16 is provided with a conical spigot 17 in one cheek, and, a correspond ing socket 18 in the opposite cheek, which spigot and socket engage with similar and opposite sockets in the coupler heads on other cars when brought together for coupling, thereby guiding together all appara tus for proper registration, it being noted in this connection, that the sockets and spigots upon each of the coupler heads 16 are arranged laterally of the respective ball or spherical connections 15 and in horizontal alignment therewith, the base portions of the several spigots being curved outwardly and slightly enlarged whereby to brace the connections 15 against material lateral stress upon relative movement between the heads and also to ensure tight engagement between the spi 'ots and their respective sockets so as to avoid detrimental vibration or rattling during movement of a train over a course. Coupler head 16 is further provided with three perforations, recessed in the front of the coupler head into which perforations and recesses are fitted sleeves 19, 20 and 21, threaded at the small end and fitted with nuts for rigidly holding sleeves in place. The threaded portion of the sleeves 19, 20 and 21 are made of sufiicient length to project through the nuts. and to these projections connection is made to the train-pipes of the car by suitable metal or other flexible hose pipe, for both the brake and signal air pipes, and, for the steam pipe. The steam pipe connection is in the lowest position in the coupler head and is designated 2i. M v

I The forward oi flanged ends of sleeves 19 are 20, (for air) are concentrically recessed and undercut te receive and. rigidly hold in position special gaskets 22 and 23 of rubber or other elastic material for tl e purpose of engaging with similar contrivances attached'to other cars, thereby aking a perfect air tightjoint as soon as such gaskets meet.

The forward or flanged end of sleeve is spherically recessed and fitted therein moulded or machined to the correct shape, is a gasket 2 1 of hard rubber, vulcanite or other suitable material for making a steam tight oint when cars are coupled, as in the case of air connections.

This gasket 24: is held in place by a simple spring clip which, while holding gasket in place permits the movement necessary to insure a perfect joint. I

Fitted to the coupler head immediately be low the steam pipe sleeve 21 and having connection to the interior thereof, is a drain valve 26 for the removal of condensed. steam.

In the hereunto annexed drawings, Figures 5 and 6 serve to illustrate more particularly a preferred form of an adapter or portable coupling for use with the improved automatic train pipe-coupler, in coupling cars fitted with said coupler to cars not so fitted, but, equipped with the standard hose connections.

Said adapter is so designed that it may readily be attached to the automatic pipecoupler heretofore described and held secured thereto by means of clamping devices.

The portable coupling 32 consists of a flat plate having three bosses 33 and 3 1 in alignment with its vertical major axis, and these bosses are equipped with removable nipples 35, 35 and 36 similar in every respect to the nipples 19, 20, and' 21, so that it is thought unnecessary to repeat the description of these nipples.

The upper boss 33 is formed with a. curv'ilinear hood 3? which engages the upper boss of the coupling member, so that the latter thus supports the adapter 32 effectively.

The'upper portionof the portable coupline" 32 is of inverted pear-shape so that it will not project beyond the edges of the body-portion 16 of the coupling when the said portions are in engagement, and the lateral edges of the adapter 32 are formed with semicircular recesses" 38 and 39, the former of which gives the necessary clearance to the conical projection 17 when the portions 32 and 16 of the coupling are enared. v v

The recess 39 will give a'proper balance to the portion of the coupling 32 and this re cess otherwise performs no function, because it is not required to clear a conical projection 18, since the said projections are on opposite faces of the coupling members 16.

A pair of guide pins 40 may be carried by] the coupling portion 16 and this will facilitate guiding the portions 32 and 16' at the coupling into proper engagement in which the nipples 35, 35' and 86 will be in alignment with the nipples 19, 20 and 21 respectively.

The portable coupling portion is provided with a pair of orifices 41 through which the T-shaped screws 42 pass to be threaded into the portion 16 of the coupling, and the screws hold the coupling in assembled position so that coacting gaskets of corresponding nipples are in alignment and make fluidtight joints.

In Fig. 5 the dotted lines indicate the relative position of certain prominent parts of the portion 16 of the coupling, which portion is not shown because it would render the figure confused.

It should be noted that as the portion 16 supports the portion 32 of the coupling, the joints of coacting gaskets cannot be broken by jarring or when the train is taking a curve. It should also be observed that all projections are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bosses and nipples, and there are no lateral projections to foul any appendages of the railway cars.

In the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description has been disclosed a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but the right is hereby reserved to any changes, alterations or modifications to which recourse may be had that come within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of the inventionor sacrificing the efiiciency of the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A coupling of the character described, comprising complemental integral cast coupling heads of substantially triangular formation, formed with opposed conical spigots on the opposite sides thereof and corresponding sockets in the remaining sides thereof, said spigots and sockets being arranged adjacent the angles at the opposite sides of their respective triangularly shaped heads, the base portions of said spigots being slightly enlarged and curved outwardly whereby to ensure their snu'g reception in their respective sockets, said heads having aligning openings therein, circular conduit receiving collars extending laterally from the heads and surrounding said openings, means within said collars formed on their inner ends with packing receiving seats, spherical heads m hand.

y JOHN B. GENIN. 

